Objective indicator for game apparatus



Sept. 1, 1942. J. c. KOCI 2,294,603

OBJECTIVE INDICATOR FOR GAME APPARATUS Filed NOV. 22, 1940 2Sheets-Sheet 1 CAac INVENTOR.

175 A TTO Jrr Sept. 1', 1942. J. c. KOCI osmc nvn INDICATOR FOR GAMEAPPARATUS Filed Nov. 22. 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 'V/eczy C [(0017INVENTOR. BY M /4z4% H25 ATTORNE Patented Sept. 1, 1942 OBJECTIVEINDICATOR FOR GAME APPARATUS Jerry C. Koci, Chicago, 111., assignor toChicago Coin Machine Mtg. 00., Chicago, 111., a corporation of IllinoisApplication November 22, 1940, Serial No. 366,519

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a game objective indicator and has for itsprincipal object the provision of an improved construction of thischaracter which will be highly efficient in use and economical inmanufacture.

Among the several objects of this invention is the provision of acombination and arrangement of parts arranged in an electric circuitunder the control of bumper contact means and which when operative iscaused to indicate by illumination a game objective. I

Another object of the invention is to provide a game objectiveindicator, the indication of which is the result of illumination therebyincreasing the eye appeal of the game to the player.

Another object of the invention is to provide a gam objective indicatorwhich may be asso ciated in combination with other objectives of thegame in a variety of different combinations.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of partsto be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings showing the preferred form of construction, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a typical game board illustrating my gameobjective indicator associated therewith;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional detail view of the same takensubstantially on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the playboard of the game apparatusillustrated in Fig. 1 looking toward the underside thereof; and

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatical view of a preferred electric circuit showingmy improved game objective indicator associated therewith.

I have heretofore indicated that my improved game objective indicatormay be associated in various combinations with other mechanisms of agame apparatus, and I therefore do not want to be limited to any oneparticular combination,

but desire to avail myself of the right to employ my improve-d gameobjective indicator in the various combinations in which it can beincorporated without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring particularly to the drawings, the

ally disposed beneath a glass panel (not shown).

My improved game objective indicator includes a ball bumper structure l3comprising a bumper head 14 of any conventional shape, design andconstruction. This bumper structure. 13 is mounted upon the inclinedplayboard l I as at [5 and preferably includes a depending contact armIii connected in one side of an electric circuit as at I! and adapted toengage a fixed contact bracket l8 connected as at Hi to the other sideof the electric circuit.

This electric circuit includes a step-up relay 2B operatively' relatedto a ratchet wheel 2| mounted on a shaft 22 carrying a wiper contact arm23. This arm 23 is adapted to have engagement with contact buttons 24arranged in an electric circuit comprising conductor members 25 and 25;each conductor 25 is connected to one side of an electric lamp 25, therebeing, in the present instance, five of such lamps. These lamps 2d aresupported from beneath the inclined board I l by brackets 21, withinsuitable openings 28 formed circumferentially about the bumper structur!3 in the board II. The bumper structure It includes an annularhorizontal disc or shield 29, the peripheral edge portion of which isdisposed over the openings and is preferably formed of a translucentmaterial to permit light passage therethrough when the electric bulbs 26are illuminated. This disc 29, in the present instance, is fioatinglymounted upon the bumper structure 13 and supports the contact arm I6whereby when the beveled edge 30 Of this disc is impinged by a rollingball, it will be caused to tilt and consequently bring the conductor arm[6 into contact with the conductor bracket 18.

Preferably adjacent each of the openings 28 and beyond the peripheraledge of the disc 29, the openings are designated by a number, such asindicated at 31.

The conductors 25' are connected to one side of electric score lamps 32;the other side of these score lamps, like the lamps 26, are grounded asat 33.

The energization of the step-up relay 20 which controls the movement ofthe ratchet wheel 2| in step by step fashion for the purposeshereinafter set forth, is controlled by an electric circuit 34, in whichthere is arranged in parallelism a plurality of bumper structures 35similar in structure to the bumper structure l3 and, like the bumperstructure, each including a conductor arm 33 and a conductor bracket 31whereby when the conductor arms 36 are caused to pivot by the action ofa ball engaging the disc carrying such arms, a circuit will bemomentarily completed to the step-up relay 20, causing the operation ofthe solenoid 20 thereof. This operation of the solenoid impartsa step bystep movement to the ratchet 2|, moving the wiper arm 23 onto the nextsucceeding buttons 24, whereby to 11- luminate the score lamp 32 and theobjective indicator lamp 26 controlled by such buttons as are engaged bythe wiper arm 23.

The game apparatus hereinbefore referred to and including the cabinetID, in addition to including bumper structures like that indicated at I3for controlling the successive illumination of the game objective lamps26, also includes other score bumpers 38. These bumpers 38 are ofsubstantially the same structure as the bumpers I3 and control certainscoring mechanism (not shown) included in the game apparatus. In acombination of bumpers such as are indicated at 38, my improved gameobjective indicator may be employed in the following manner, it beingunderstood that this combination is merely used to show one form ofemployment of my improved game objective indicator.

When my improved game objective indicator is employed in a gameapparatus having bumper switches such as are indicated at r 38, thesebumper structures may be designated by numbers l5, as indicated at 39,and which correspond to the numbers opposite the holes 28, whereby inplaying the game unless the particular bumper 38 engaged by a ball isindicated by the illuminated lamp 26, no score will result or becounted. This is merely one of the many usages to which my improved gameobjective indicator may be employed.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form ofconstruction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable ofvariation and modification without departing from the spirit of theinvention. I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise detailsof construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variationsand modifications as come within the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire toprotect by Letters Patent is.

In a game objective indicator the combination with a game board downwhich balls are adapted to gravitate, of a bumper switch structuresupported by the board and including a transparent switch actuatingperipheral shield disposed above the board in spaced parallel relationwith respect thereto and adapted to be engaged by said balls, switchmeans actuated by said shield when the latter is engaged by a ball, aplurality of indicia means circumferentially arranged on said boardadjacent said shield; illuminating means for each of said indicia meansand supported by the board beneath said shield, and means controlled bysaid switch means for successively illuminating said illuminating means.

JERRY C. KOCI.

